Thanks to all who attended Oscar Night® America - Virginia 2008! View or purchase photographs from the evening here


Oscar Night® Virginia was almost a casualty of the Writers' Strike.
But the Virginia Film Office helps keep THE DREAM alive!

"If I Can Dream It...I Can Achieve It!"

In 2007, as one of only 49 officially sanction parties by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Central Virginia Film Institute had a very successful party last year with close to 400 attendees. This year, the Institute was excited to be licensed and sanctioned again by the Academy and had wonderful plans for the 2nd Oscar Night® America Party in 2008. But this year, sadly because of the writer's strike - there were slow ticket sales which threatened to end the signature fundraising event for this small non-profit organization who was relying on funds raised to help bring the first annual 2008 Central Virginia Film Festival to the Central Virginia region, with the theme "If I Can Dream It...I Can Achieve It".

The dream of a film festival in Central Virginia was beginning to seem like it might not happen but this story has a wonderful ending, because of the Virginia Film Office. They felt that the 2008 Central Virginia Film Festival would be so important to the state of Virginia - that this fundraising event has been "rescued" at the last minute by a generous grant to cover the underwriting expenses.

So, the Central Virginia Film Institute has pledged to move forward with the fundraising event to keep the DREAM alive! In order to help as many people attend this event, and learn about the planned film festival and to help give their support for this dream, Oscar Night® Virginia will now be a FREE event. The public are invited to come to this "Kick-off" event at The Byrd Theatre in Richmond - for the 2008 Central Virginia Film Festival to take place in historic Petersburg. It is the hope of the Central Virginia Film Institute that people will come to this event with generous hearts as they have the opportunity to give and bid on wonderful Silent Auction items and that the dream of the 2008 Central Virginia Film Festival will be realized.

Just like the event in 2007, for this Oscar® worthy event, everyone will feel like stars as they walk the red carpet and have an opportunity to be interviewed by Morgan Dean of WRIC TV8. They will meet Celebrity Host Daphne Maxwell Reid and Honorary Chairman, Senator Henry L. Marsh III - who will present the first Film Festival DREAMers Team 2008 Humanitarian Award to Oliver Hill, Sr.

There will be live entertainment - including the famous "Byrd organist", and a Silent Auction (items including: a mink fur jacket from Alan Furs, Signature wine from Sterling Vineyards autographed by Regis Philbin, a signed poster from Sugar Ray Robinson, the hat from Michael Jackson's video "Billie Jean" - donated by Daphne Reid, a signed Will Smith "The Pursuit of Happyness" poster and much much more). There will be raffled items and the opportunity to buy a limited of number of official Academy Awards® programs just like those given out the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood.

Businesses in Richmond, Carytown, Central Virginia and Petersburg have been invited to help make this event a taste of Central Virginia "potluck" reception. We are calling this a Central Virginia "block-party" where we will open our doors to the area businesses to bring goodies and advertise their shops: a veritable "potluck". There will also be a cash bar and The Byrd Theatre, the venue for this year's Oscar Night® America fundraiser, continues its support of this event by offering a free small drink and small popcorn to all ticket holders.

PLUS, don't forget, the STAR of the evening, the Live telecast of the 80th Annual Academy Awards®, complete with all of the red carpet stars, presenters, and performers (now that the writers' strike is over.) The show is hosted by funnyman Jon Stewart, and the evening will be kicked off with red carpet interviews hosted by Regis Philbin.